Manchester United v Arsenal: Amid injury woes for both sides, is it too much to ask for a classic?

With both teams in the hunt for the title, the history between Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho and the desperation for some club football after two weeks of boredom (aka the international break) the fixture is even more anticipated than normal.

So here’s some more to whet your appetite…

It’s a big game for…

Marcus Rashford. With Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended and Wayne Rooney a doubt (for both fitness and pictures in the newspaper reasons) it falls on the 18-year-old to get the goals. It’s thought he’ll play in the central striker position, providing him with an opportunity to stake a claim for the role.

Goal getter? He scored twice when these sides last met (Getty)

Likely line-ups…

Both teams have some serious concerns. For Manchester United it’s the absence of Ibrahimovic and possibly Rooney. Problems also remain at the back with Antonio Valencia, Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw (probably) unavailable. We’ve pretended to be Mourinho and come up with this XI…

Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez is a doubt – however Sanchez would probably try to play if he only had one leg so it’s tough to predict if he will feature or not. Hector Bellerin is definitely out though, joining Santi Cazorla, Lucas Perez, Chuba Akpom, Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck on the sidelines.

If you memorise one stat, memorise this…

Wenger has never beaten Mourinho in the Premier League. In 11 meetings they’ve drawn six while the Portuguese coach has won the other five.

Last time they met…

Another match like the last one would do nicely (at least from a Manchester United and neutral’s point of view). Manchester United triumphed 3-2 thank to a brace form Rashford and another from Herrera. Danny Welbeck and Mesut Ozil did their best to peg United back in the Old Trafford meeting but it wasn’t enough.

Rashford scored twice when they last met (Getty)

From the archives…

There are so many moments in the history of this fixture it could be one of many. We’ve gone with the last time Arsenal won at Old Trafford in the Premier League though – just because it was so long ago you might need reminding.

So cast your mind back to September 2006 and a time when Arsenal fans didn’t hate Emmanuel Adebayor. That’s because he just scored an 86th minute winner in a 1-0 at the Theatre of Dreams.

Metro.co.uk prediction…

With all our heart we want a classic – but it’s tough to imagine that with Mourinho in charge at Old Trafford. With his side depleted of personnel in defence and attack, his usual inclination would be to go on the defensive and keep it tight. In contrast Arsenal will try to attack and on a 16 game unbeaten run it’s hard to see them getting beat. For those reasons we’re looking at a draw.